President Bola Tinubu and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Goshewe Yilwatda, on Tuesday affirmed Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State as the leader of the party and formally joined the party with his followers.
In a veiled reference to the fight for the soul of the APC following reports that the governor was on the verge of defecting to the APC after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both President Tinubu and Yilwatda anointed Diri as the new leader of the APC in Bayelsa.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the President at the occasion, said: “This is for us a progressive-minded political meeting. You have always been a progressive. And here, in the presence of the three citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have a simple message for you from the President and the President.
“With respect to the APC Constitution, the governor acts as the leader of the party in the state. What unites us supersedes what divides us. We are a party with a common destiny, and here at this meeting.”
He praised Diri for his cordial relationship with the APC-led federal administration as well as being “a leader who has chosen the hardest good over the easiest evil.”
He added: “There are moments in the life of a nation when politics transcends partisanship, when the call to service outweighs the colors of our feelings, and when leaders respond to something larger than their affiliation. Today is one of those redemptive moments in our nation’s political history.
“Governor Diri, this meeting is a coming home party for you. We are here not simply for a ceremony of convenience but for a celebration of your conviction. Yours is the story of a leader who has chosen the harder good over the easier evil. Today, you have shown us that Bayelsa has chosen the light of integration over the shadows of isolation.
“The APC, the party of those who believed that progress can only be guaranteed when we are united, when we respond to the call of our people.
Similarly, the APC National Chairman, Professor Yilwatda, expressed delight that the governor and indeed the people of Bayelsa had taken a 180 degree turn in the right direction.
“Today, I hand over the APC flag to you as the leader of the party in Bayelsa State. Anything related to Bayelsa State, the national working committee will contact Diri, and we will hold you responsible for anything related to APC in the state. Today, you take over as the leader of our party in the state.”
He added: “With this flag, we want them to sweep away the PDP and all the votes for the APC in 2027. We must have 100 per cent of the votes in Bayelsa.”
In response, Governor Diri said his defection was due to the prolonged crisis rocking the PDP and the leadership qualities of President Tinubu.
Diri said: “I left because I did not want the undertakers to bury Bayelsa along with the PDP.”
“You all know that there are two factions in the PDP at the national level. As a leader who practices consultative politics, I made several efforts to save the situation, but to no avail.
“I was the chairman of the PDP South-South governors’ forum and there were five of us. But at one point, everyone left the PDP, leaving me alone. I had to make the difficult decision to also join the APC, so that we can continue our South-South governors’ meetings.”